Johnny1
Well-known member
Although early March(3rd to 7th) isn't the best time to visit birdwise a 5 day trip to Amsterdam was booked with a day or two birding and the rest of the time left for sight seeing as my wife had never visited Amsterdam before.
We decided the Oostvaardersplassen would be the best place to visit for our main days birding due to it's location as its only a train ride from Amsterdam however when we realised how vast the area is and only small parts pf the reserve are open to the public we decided to book a guide for the day and I'm truly glad we did, I don't think we'd have seen half the number of birds we did without the help of Taco our guide (Flevobirdwatching tours) who was very knowleagable of both the area and the birds.
Although no Spoonbills were seen as it was a little too early there were plenty of Gt.White Egrets which are far commoner here than Little Egrets,
White Tailed Eagle views of one in flight and one perched.
Rough Legged Buzzard, one definite and a couple which showed RLB behaviour but couldn't be confirmed.
Goshawk two seen with my first sighting of a perched bird.
Smew in double figures on the reserve and from the Oostvaardersdijk, I've always wanted to see the males in their natural habitat and not the usual redheads we normally see occasionally here (Lancashire)
Of course all the waders and wildfowl you would expect to see on a wetland were here Tufted Ducks and Gt.Crested Grebes were numerous.
Litterally thousands of Barnacle Geese were here with smaller numbers of White Fronted Goose and Grey Lag.
Mammals, large herds of Red Deer and Konic Horses with a small number of Roe Deer, we were shown the location of beavers, as these are mostly nocturnal none were seen.
Sloterspark (south east of Amsterdam)
There is a Heronry in the main Park providing plenty of photo opportunities as the paths run directly through it... but don't stand underneath for too long for obvious reasons! There were a few egg shells underneath the nests so I presume some of the chicks had recently hatched. Also seen here Gt Spotted Woodpeckers, 1 Green woodpecker, 3 Short Toed Treecreepers, Buzzard, Egyptian Geese and the usual waterfowl.
To the West of the main park across the dual carriageway (President Allendelaan road) is a small "nature reserve" were we saw 2 Buzzards, a recently arrived White Stork standing on a nesting platform less than 10 meters away which again gave great photo's. and while we were watching the Stork a flyover Goshawk.
Thanks again to Taco.
We decided the Oostvaardersplassen would be the best place to visit for our main days birding due to it's location as its only a train ride from Amsterdam however when we realised how vast the area is and only small parts pf the reserve are open to the public we decided to book a guide for the day and I'm truly glad we did, I don't think we'd have seen half the number of birds we did without the help of Taco our guide (Flevobirdwatching tours) who was very knowleagable of both the area and the birds.
Although no Spoonbills were seen as it was a little too early there were plenty of Gt.White Egrets which are far commoner here than Little Egrets,
White Tailed Eagle views of one in flight and one perched.
Rough Legged Buzzard, one definite and a couple which showed RLB behaviour but couldn't be confirmed.
Goshawk two seen with my first sighting of a perched bird.
Smew in double figures on the reserve and from the Oostvaardersdijk, I've always wanted to see the males in their natural habitat and not the usual redheads we normally see occasionally here (Lancashire)
Of course all the waders and wildfowl you would expect to see on a wetland were here Tufted Ducks and Gt.Crested Grebes were numerous.
Litterally thousands of Barnacle Geese were here with smaller numbers of White Fronted Goose and Grey Lag.
Mammals, large herds of Red Deer and Konic Horses with a small number of Roe Deer, we were shown the location of beavers, as these are mostly nocturnal none were seen.
Sloterspark (south east of Amsterdam)
There is a Heronry in the main Park providing plenty of photo opportunities as the paths run directly through it... but don't stand underneath for too long for obvious reasons! There were a few egg shells underneath the nests so I presume some of the chicks had recently hatched. Also seen here Gt Spotted Woodpeckers, 1 Green woodpecker, 3 Short Toed Treecreepers, Buzzard, Egyptian Geese and the usual waterfowl.
To the West of the main park across the dual carriageway (President Allendelaan road) is a small "nature reserve" were we saw 2 Buzzards, a recently arrived White Stork standing on a nesting platform less than 10 meters away which again gave great photo's. and while we were watching the Stork a flyover Goshawk.
Thanks again to Taco.
